Sacramento daily record-union., 1887-08-08

three years in lSan Quentin for an as
sault to rob, and six months in the county |
Jail for petty stealing. Was first impris-
oned for the present term in San Quentin,
and shortly afterwards transferred here.
" have been going to sea-"
Director Sonntag-To see what?
"Blueskin with broad smile)-To
see the ocean.
| have been in solitary for two years.
First time was sent 10 solitary for thirty
days for fighting. He could not remember
what he was sent in solitary for. The pris-
oner is about as e tough " looking crimi-
nal as there is in the State. He is little
above brute in instincts. He is litter
ate, and only has one apparent ambi-
ton and that is to be looked upon as ?.
" tough" or 'hard- d-hitter.' He cemplrL,ns
of poor health, but is always readJ for
scrap" had several fights at tie prison,
and invariably gets away :" wiIoh his man.
He says he is despised by ts.as officer, s and
at least 300 of the prisoners at Folsom
would murder him if they could only get
an opportunity. He says he is not airaid
Of Smidt or any of them if they do not
sneak up behind him. Ali he wants is
" fair shake" He was very complimentary
to DR.. Durant, whom he says
NEVER REFUSED FIN MEDICINE.
I1c SdIu Ill uOt q DAu uldus never
murdered anybody. On the contrary, I'm
gentleman and a Christian. "Blueskin"
said that Jim Winters, who was in one of
the solitary cells, and an Lrishman also,
who was closely confined were felgning
insanity. He was dead on to their little
game" He related with nuch minuteness
and particularly his fights with Smidt
and the stabbing atfray in which Smidt
came near killing him. The reason l am
in solitary now is because / spoke to Di-
rector Sonntag. l tole him my trouble. l
had letter in my pocket which l wanted
to give him. He wclldn't take it, and told
me to give it to the Captain. did so, and
the letter was sealed The Captain said to
| me as walked out: Il will give il to you
in the back of the neck"
at the close of Blueskin's :" testimony,
Director Sonntag said: Don't you think,
Blueskin, that you had better turn over
new leaf?
Blueskin-I want to go to San Quentin.
They want to kill me here. want to go
to San Quentin alone. If Smidt is sent to
San Quentin, then am willing to remain
| here.
CAPITA in Chambers said Blueskin would
not work, and they had to put him in soli
tary three times. He would become peni-
tent, and beg out by promising to do bet
| ter. Gne day he came up to me with a
rake in his hand in a rAest intimidating
manner and said I had been bulldozing
him long enough. He was locked up for
three months, when he begged out again.
Short y afterwards he walked up and down
in front of the office in most defiant
manner, saying that Sonntag had promised
| to back him, and he be - if he would
work. He made threats he is a fighter,
and very dangerous man. Since he had
heen at Folsom he had whipped prisoners
Abbott, Garroley, Dutch Baker, Big Smith,
and Billy O'Dell
YoUNS LIFE TIMER.
The next prisoner brought out was fine
looking young man by the name of Chas.
Abbott. who says he was sentenced for
life. He was born in England, and is %
years of age. Some four years ago he COM
mitted most brutal murder in San Fran
cisco. He was a young San Francisco
tough, and after committing this Geld
blooded murder he engaged the same night
| in two robberies at a late hour. He
had served one term for an attempt to rob,
and for this offense he went up for
life. He has made attempts to escape.
He said: killed man, but not for money.
| was convicted with another young fellow
10 years of age. He had been in solitary
16 months and l6 days. He had been on
bread and water four times. The firsttime
l was put in solitary was when / rugged q
dummy in my cell in order to escape. The
second time they found an opium pipe in
my cell. | learned to smoke in this prison.
The third time was on account of opium
smoking; the fourth time for violence to
Mr.. Cassidy. He said he had not been in
the sunlight for so long that he wanted an
| opportunity to get out and work and be-
have himself like man. He said there was
no such thing as dungeon in the, prison.
DR.. Durant had promised him, as had also
Captain Chambers, to see the Warden and
get him outside to work. He had not been
outside the prison wall for four years. He
told avery interesting story abouthis last
fight in the prison. which occurred on St.
Patrick's day. The witness has little vein
of humor in his composition and several
times laughed at his own recital He said
it was pretty hard on a young man who
| was full of life. yet had no hope but to
suffer this close confinement. Other pris-
oners, greater offenders, were treated better
than he, and this hur him all the more.
If all were closely confined and put on
| bread and water, he would not grumble,
tor then he would have the satisfaction of
| knowing that all were on an equality
He says at one time he meditated suicide.
One day, while he and Blueskin were in
| the same cell, the latter put the garroters'
hitch upon him, and would have murdered
him had not help been ct hand. Another
time he had the DROP on Blueskin, and
the latter "squealed." The food is all
| right. l have a good bed, aud all the
blankets | need. The cells are cleaned out
as often as necessary, or as often as we de-
sire. Captain Chambers always speaks
pleasantly to me. The prisoner then gave
a detailed history of his life, of his sea
voyages and shipwrecks. All he wanted
was an opportunity to work out in the sun.
j have no prejudice against any one.
Captain Chambers said Abbott was one
of the second batch of prisoners that came
up from San Francisco when Poekman
was Warden at Folsom. He is tough
boy. When he had only 90 days to serve
he attempted to escape. He has made two
attempts to break out during his second
term. Knowing him to be brave, that be
would take almost any chances, he thought
it best to keep him inside. | did ask for
him to have another chance. l wanted to
! get him out from the kitchen, but the War
den refused. and think very wisely. too.
The other officers c0rroborated the state
ment of Chambers
General McComb said have been very
careful in the last two weeks to see that
we have no additional temptation. All the
prisoners want is a leader If Abbott was
let out he would be dangerous character.
II LIS AcditH 10 uUt DeluS llipalTeU leave
him in for few weeks. He has quite fol-
lowing. think he is a pretty hard case
i would want to know that he was under
a watchful guard. If Abbott starts to run
he will be killed. When / can believe he
will not attempt it | may lei him out l
don't want to let him out. / don't want TO
have toshoot him, 1t was a cowardly murder
that he committed. A prisoner who
has killed man is looked upon
by his fellow convicts as a brave man /
have taken into consideration his health.
DIR. Durant and Captain Chambers have
both talked to me about Abbott. He is a
prisoner who would do most anything for
notoriety; de most anything to raise him
in the estimation of his fellow conyicts.
| Dick Fellows, the noted stage-robber, who
/ has charge OF the library, would be 8 very